Shelf rack



Feb 15, 1955 L. E. PAsToRlUs m ET AL 2,702,127

SHELF' RACK Filed April l1. 1951 s sheetslsheer 1 JNVENTORS. ou/[9 E.bs/or/'ugand BY Mar/'an ,4, C22/acci@ L. E. PASTORIUS m ET Al.

SHELF RACK Feb. 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April ll, 1951 Feb. 15,1955 I .y/E. PAsTORlUs III ETAL l 2,702,127

SHELF RACK 3`Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April ll, 1951 g INVENTORS [oa/'S E.@Sfar/a,

United States Patent 4O 2,102,127` SHELF. RACK Louis E. Pastorius IIIand:Marion- A. Caiaccia,

Pittsburgh, Pa.V

Application April 11, 1.95.1, .Serial No. 220,442 ,sl (el. `al1- 41)This 4invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in'shelf racks and more particularly to a portable shelf Vrack for use4 inrestaurants, hospitals and the like.

The', shelf rack comprising this invention may be ernployed forsupporting sterile articles and it can be provided vvithcasters to makethe same portable. Again the shelves of the racks may be slotted toprovide guides for receivingand supporting trays, slides orother similarmembers in uniform vertical alignment. Such devices are particularlyadvantageous for use in large restaurants ofthe help yourself orcafeteria stylewherein the patrons obtain a tray and thenproceed withthe same` to select their food.

Another advantage of this invention is the provision of atray that maybecompletely disassembled and stored or shipped as a relatively ilatpackage.

Another advantage ofthis invention is the provislon of `a shelf rackwherein'each part is separable and may permit the same to bedisassembled for cleaning purposes.

Another advantage of this invention is the provisionof a shelf rack thatmay be assembled ordisassembled without the use of'vtools `but merely,by the means of thumb screws.

Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the followingdescription and claims.

The accompanying ,drawings show,for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical,embodiments of the invention wherein:

Fig. 1 isan isometric View of this invention as applied to aportabletrayzrack.

Fig. 2`is an isometric yviewof one ofthe frames employed in eacheof theshelves of the trayrack as shown in Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a viewj in elevation of one of the angle posts membersshowing` the inside ofthe angle,V four of which posts provide a set ofsupports for a series of shelf racks.

Fig.v 4 is a sectionall View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing theangular post 4member shown in Flg. 3 having a set screwin the bracethereof.y

Fig. 5 .is .an isometric `View of one of the plate members slotted toreceive trays, with kparts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a sectional viewtaken through one of` the shelves of theslotted rack for supporting a series of trays.

Fig. 7 isa detailed isometric view-of 7the underside of a portion oftheclamps as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a complete corner post support that` isemployed to make the rack mobile, withV parts broken away.

Referring to the drawings, the shelf rack as shown in Fig.` l comprisesa series of rfivejshelves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 which are supported by thefour angle corner post members 6, 7, 8and 9. Each pair of post members6-7 -and 8--9 is; supported by the foot members 10 and 11.

Each shelf is` supported by a framemember as indicated in Fig. Zat 12which comprisesa rectangular frame made of channel members havinginturned anges ask shown at 13. The frame is constructed to have at eachcorner a depending leg which is indicated by the angles v14. Each leg iswelded to the frame 12and depends therebelow as shown for thepurpose ofbeing stepped into the spaced aligned brace members 15, 16, 17 and 18 ofthe angle post members 6 which are shown in Fig.` 3. The series ofbraces`15 to 1S, inclusive, on each leg member are marshal with thisstrssppdiag brass member 0f .earch 2,702,127 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 2`other legrmember and are attaehed=at,;the,sa`rnel relative position oneach post. `It willbenoted that thesetof braces asindicated at; 15 isrelatively narrow in width, Whereas each set as indicated, at16`1'7^arid18-inreases' in width.Y This-is to permit` the postmembersdto 9 to provide shelves -at predetermined-spacing; ythe spacingbeing ofuniform distance between'adjaeent shelves if the posts areinserted in the upright position as shown in Fig,` 3. If, however, the.posts `'are inverted and the legs 1.4-are stepped behind' the braces,each of Vthe shelfgnemfV bers will be `spaced Aa` greater distanceVVapart althoughthe spacingbetween eaeh-ofthe shelves will b'e uniform.'i This is an important object of 'this'inventiom Theibra'elmembers-1'5to.18, are-seured to each Vof the angle post members by anysuitablemeans suchfas by welding and -they comprise a strap that extends across,the angle. The ,center-of the'strap may'befprovided with an internallythreadedveollar, asindicated at 2Q-in Fig, 4, for receiving the thumbscrew-member 21forthe purposeof-screwingthrough the collar and againsttheinner face of the angle leg member 14Lclamping, the-same in theangleof the post member 6. The clamping` action of -the thumb screwA2,1' against the center of the' angle of the leg Y 14 properly centersthe leg within the post and, thus, maintains the proper alignment of therackparts, Again the brace member may` beexed somewhat by the pressureexerted on the clamping screw 21'bringing theanges of the posttowardoonev another which enables them -to exert a pressure on theendsof l'the platesv 2'2";as indicated at 23 in Fig. l. VThe ilange ofeachcorner post 'is of a widthy which `is slightly greater thanone-halfthe Vdifference `between the lengths offthe frame and`*the-plate, and the width of the plate is slightly greater than thewidth of the frame, so that tightening'the thumb Yscrews 21 will drawthe corner posts towardone another and-force the edges ofthe cornerpostranges into clamping engagement with kthe ends of the plates.

A single plate member 22 `is shown in Fig. 5; This platre member hasvbeen slotted as indicated at `24 for-.the purpose ofi-receiving trays.Each of the plate members 22,'may be plain and, thus, provide a plainshelfrather than a slotted shelf for thepurpose of receivinginstruments, dishes or other similar articles. Each of the slots 24.isis cut to a lower extent along one edge o f the shelf, as indicated-at 25,V than on the other edge ofthe shelf, as indicated at `26 asshownin Fig. 6v. The slots24 `are open as indicated on the right andereclosed as indicated on the left of this View.k The closed end oftheslots functions as a` stop for the tray members as indicated at 27;'

Each of the plate members constituting theshelf 'has an -inturned ange28on the frontend rear thereof. It is preferable although not requiredto curve the sides, .of the plate edges as ,indicated at ,30bl 1t,thesamemaywbe sharply broken if` desired inowhieht case the slot 2,6,wouldbe substantially flushwith the upper surface of the plate member to forma stop.y

Each of the inturned front. and rear lianges of theplate member .islprovided with Yan angle 31` which,V las shown. in Fig.` 6, supports theplate member 22 `on vthe upper surface of the frame member 12 and theinturned edges 28 of the plate memberV are close to each other and aresubstantially at the center of the channelfmembers as, shown, The angles31 not only provide rigidness for `the, plate members 22 and a supporttherefor, but these angles also space the centralpanel of the platemember 22 from the upper and lower surfaces of the frame 12 as shown inFig.6; thus, allowingthe tray members l27 to pass beA tween the spacedslots and rest upon the top surface of the angles .-31.

On the top surface of each frame a drip or condensation pan member 33 issupported which has a bowl portion 34 vand an annular flange memberSSthat rests on the inner-edge of the inturned flanges 13 of the framemember 12 and is merely held in position Vby reason of the fact that thebowl 34 is coniined between the inturned edges of the frame 12. Howeverthe drip trays 33 may be removed, if, desired, ythrough the ends of therack as Shown in, .Fis-1 PrQ-Yding the. flanges ,35 0f. the` pan .are

not too wide to prevent their passage between each pair of posts 6 and 7when tilted.

The underside of each frame 12 is likewise provided with -one of theplate members 22 which is constructed identically with the plate memberon the top thereof. Each side of the underside of the frame 12 isprovided with a series of preferably four clamp members such asindicated at 36. Each clamp member which is also shown in Fig. 7 isprovided with a finger control portion 38 and a body portion 39 with apivot 40 on the bracket 41, the bracket 41 being Welded to the lowerflange 13. As shown in Fig. 7 the body portion 39 of the clamp isrectangular and, when moved to a position of 90 from that shown it willrelease the ange 31 of the plate 22. 'I'he pivot 40 is olfset relativeto the flange and thus supports the plate 22 of the underside of theframe 12.

By assembling each of the plate members 22 on a frame member 12 andplacing a drip pan 33 therein, one may then assemble the same on thefour posts 6, 7, 8 and 9. By stepping the legs 14 into position behindthe brace members and by clamping each of the leg members 14 by thethumb screws 21 each shelf may be locked in place. Owing to the factthat the length of each plate 22 is slightly less than its frame, itbecomes clamped in position by the legs of the posts when the thumbscrews are tightly set. This is particularly true when the thumb screwscause the braces to bow the flanges of the posts and thus draw themtightly against the ends of the plates 22. Thus each of the plates isrigidly secured relative to the posts and relative to each other, andthe trays may be inserted between the adjacent plates with their upperedges guided by a slot in the plate on the underside of the upper shelfmember and the lower edge of the tray being guided by a correspondingslot in the lower plate on the shelf member, and the stops as indicatedat 26 prevents the trays from being shoved clear through the shelfmember.

v The top of the rack may be provided with a plain shelf member, such asindicated by the plate 42, which need not be provided with the slots 24.It is also provided with smooth panel ends, such as indicated at 22a,each of which extends over the four corner posts and thus provides aneat finish on the upper end of the rack.

Each foot, as indicated at and 11 in Fig. 1, is a duplicate of eachother and extends materially beyond the pair of angular posts 6 and 7 toprovide stability to the rack. Each foot is provided with a top panel 43and a downwardly annular flange member 44 which form right angles atopposite ends of the foot as indicated at 45. A

bracket member 46 is placed across each of the right angle corners, asindicated in Fig. 8, to receive the stem 47 of the caster member 48.Thus the caster members are placed at the opposite ends of each foot andone may stand on the extending portion of each foot to pull on the rackwithout fear of tilting and upsetting the same 12s/ high is an importantfactor in a portable rack of this m Each foot is provided with a pair ofupwardly extending angles 50 which are spaced apart at the same distanceas that of the pairs of posts 6-7 and 8 9. In order to assemble the rackon the feetV 10 and 11, the angle posts are set down over the upwardlyextending angle 50 withV the braces confining the posts in place andthen the frame of the bottom shelf is inserted in place inside the angleof the upwardly extending angle 50placing the angle 5t) between thecorner posts 6 to 9 and the corresponding legs 14 of the lowermost frame12. When the thumb screws 21 of the lowermost brackets are screwedinwardly, they engage the legs 14 and tightly clamp the upwardlyextending angle 50 against the corner posts, thus securing the whole ofthe rack as one integral unit to the feet and permit the same to providea mobile structure.

We claim:

l. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each framehaving a downwardly extending-leg at each corner, a plurality of matchedplate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greater widthand shorter length than said frames, one plate member resting on the topof each frame with the inturned front and rear edges closely adjacentthe front and rear sides of the frame, four corner posts each having aplurality of matched braces attached in the same relative position alongeach post to provide a set of'braces -at different elevations for eachshelf,'each of said corner posts'having a width slightly greater thanone-half the difference in the distance between the length of each frameand the length of each plate, said braces spaced outwardly from theposts to receive a leg of a frame stepped therebehind to support theframes, and a fastening means on each brace to clamp the leg against thepost and rigidly hold all the parts together and to clamp and lock theplate ends between the posts at opposite ends of the rack.

2. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each framehaving a downwardly extending leg at each corner, a plurality of matchedplate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greater widthand shorter length than said frames, one plate member resting on the topof each frame with the inturned front and rear edges closely adjacentthe front and rear sides of the frame, four corner posts each having aplurality of matched braces attached in the same relative position alongeach post to provide a set of braces at dilferent elevations for eachshelf, each of said corner posts having a width slightly greater thanone-half the diference in the distance between the length of each frameand the length of each plate, said braces spaced outwardly from theposts to receive a leg of a frame stepped therebehind tosupport theframes, a fastening means on each brace to clamp the leg against thepost and rigidly hold all the parts together and to clamp and lock theplate ends between the posts at opposite ends of the rack, and a footfor each pair of corner posts having a pair of spaced upwardly extendingprojections to be received and clamped with the legs of the lowermostframe for anchoring the posts to said foot, said feet extending beyondthe corner posts to provide stability to the rack.

3. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each framehaving a downwardly extending leg at each corner, a plurality of matchedplate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greater Widthand shorter length than said frames, one plate member resting on the topof each frame with the inturned front and rear edges closely adjacentthe front and rear sides of the frame, four corner posts each having aplurality of matched braces attached in the same relative position alongeach post to provide a set of braces at different elevations for eachshelf, each of said corner posts having a width slightly greater thanone-half the difference in the distance between the length of each frameand the length of each plate, said braces spaced outwardly from theposts to receive a leg of a frame stepped therebehind to support theframes, the braces of consecutive sets being of different widths and thespacing between their corresponding top and bottom edges being selectedto provide different dimensions between shelves when the four cornerposts are inverted, and a fastening means on each brace to clamp the legagainst the post and rigidly hold all the parts together and to clampand lock the plate ends between the posts at opposite ends of the rack.

4. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each framehaving a downwardly extending leg at each corner, a plurality of matchedplate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greater widthand shorter length than said frames, one plate member resting on the topand another removably held to the bottom of each frame with the inturnedfront and rear edges closely adjacent the front and rear sides of theframe, four corner posts each having a plurality of matched bracesattached in the same relative position along each post to provide a setof braces at different elevations for each shelf, each of said cornerposts having a width slightly greater than one-half the difference inthe distance between the length of each frame and the length of eachplate, said braces spaced outwardly from the posts to receive a leg of aframe stepped therebehind to support the frames, and a fastening meanson each brace to clamp the leg against the post and rigidly hold all theparts together and to clamp and lock the top and bottom plate endsbetween the posts at opposite ends of the rack.

5. A kshelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, eachframe having a downwardly extending leg at each corner, a plurality ofmatched plate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greaterwidth and shorter'length than said frames, one plate member resting onthe top and another removably held to the bottom of each frame with theinturned front and rear edges closely adjacent the front and rear sidesof the frame,V an angle spaced inwardly of each inturned edge of eachplate to space the underside of each plate from said frame, four cornerposts each having a plurality of matched braces attached in the samerelative position along each post to provide a set of braces atdifferent elevations for each shelf, each of said corner posts having awidth slightly greater than one-half the diiference in the distancebetween the length of each frame and the length of each plate, saidbraces spaced outwardly from the posts to receive a leg of a framestepped therebehind to support the frames, and a fastening means on eachbrace to clamp the leg against the post and rigidly hold all the partstogether and to clamp and lock the top and bottom plate ends between theposts at opposite ends of the rack.

6. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, each framehaving a downwardly extending leg at each corner, a plurality of matchedplate members with inturned front and rear edges and of greater widthand shorter length than said frames and each having a series of alignedtransverse slots in the adjacent plates to form guides, one plate memberresting on the top and another removably held to the bottom of eachframe with the inturned front and rear edges closely adjacent the frontand rear sides of the frame, an angle spaced inwardly of each inturnededge of each plate to space the underside of each plate from said frame,a drip pan resting on the top of each frame under the slotted top platethereof, four corner posts each having a plurality of matched bracesattached in the same relative position along each post to provide a setof braces at different elevations for each shelf, each of said cornerposts having a width slightly greater than one-half the difference inthe distance between the length of each frame and the length of eachplate, said braces spaced outwardly from the posts to receive a leg of aframe stepped therebehind to support the frames, and a fastening meanson each brace to clamp the leg against the post and rigidly hold all theparts together and to clamp and lock the plate ends and the drip panends between the posts at opposite ends of the rack.

7. A shelf rack comprising a plurality of rectangular frames, eachcorner of said frame having an inwardly facing downwardly extendingangle to form a leg, a plurality of matched plate members with inturnedfront and rear edges and of greater width and shorter length than saidframes, one plate member resting on the top of each frame with theinturned front and rear edges closely adjacent the front and rear sidesof the frames, four corner posts each being angular in cross section andhaving a plurality of matched braces extending across the angle andattached in the same relative position along each post to provide a setof braces at different elevations for each shelf, each of said cornerposts having a width slightly greater than one-half the difference inthe distance between the length of each frame and the length of eachplate, said braces receiving the angle legs stepped therebehind tosupport the frames, and a thumb screw carried by each brace to engageand clamp the surface of the angle leg nested against the angle post andto clamp and lock the plate ends between the posts at opposite ends ofthe rack.

8. A shelf rack comer post comprising an angle having outwardlyprojecting flanges, a series of spaced braces connecting said flanges,said braces being progressively wider from one end of the post and theirspacing from each other being selected to provide two different sets ofuniform distances, one set between the tops of adjacent braces and theother set between the bottoms of adjacent braces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,272,207 Bullen July 9, 1918 1,281,104 Unger Oct. 8, 1918 1,422,613Ogden July 1l, 1922 1,465,777 Cantelo Aug. 21, 1923 1,721,743 Nuberg n-July 23, 1929 1,889,218 Reedy Nov. 29, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 691,818France July 21, 1930

